Extended responses questions

1.

Up to two additional marks are available for the construction of your answers.
(2)

(a)

Most of the DNA of a human cell is contained in the nucleus. Distinguish between unique
and highly repetitive sequences in nuclear DNA.
(5)

a)
Award [1] for each pair of statements in the table and [1] for any
statement below the table.
Unique sequences
Highly repetitive sequences
occur once in genome

occur many times;

long base sequences

short sequences/5300 bases;

(may be) genes

not genes;

(may be) translated / coding sequences

never translated;

small differences between individuals

can vary greatly;

exons (are unique sequences)

introns (may be repetitive);

smaller proportion of genome

higher proportion of genome;

satellite DNA is repetitive;

repetitive sequences are used for profiling;
prokaryotes do not (usually) contain repetitive sequences;

(b)

5 max

Draw a labelled diagram to show four DNA nucleotides, each with a different base,
linked together in two strands.
(5)

Award [1] for each of these structures clearly drawn and labelled.
four nucleotides shown in diagram with one nucleotide clearly labelled;
base, phosphate and deoxyribose (shown as pentagon) connected between
the correct carbons and labelled at least once;
backbone labelled as covalent bond between nucleotides correctly shown
as 3 to 5 bond;
two base pairs linked by hydrogen bonds drawn as dotted lines and labelled;
two H bonds between A and T and three H bonds between C and G;
adenine to thymine and cytosine to guanine; do not accept initials of bases
antiparallel orientation shown;
(c)

Explain the methods and aims of DNA profiling.

(c)

DNA sample obtained;

from hair/blood/semen/human tissue;
DNA amplified / quantities of DNA increased by PCR/polymerase
chain reaction;
satellite DNA/highly repetitive sequences are used/amplified;
DNA cut into fragments;
using restriction enzymes/restriction endonucleases;
gel electrophoresis is used to separate DNA fragments;

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using electric field / fragments separated by size;

number of repeats varies between individuals / pattern of bands is unique to the
individual/unlikely to be shared;
Award [5 max] for methods.
forensic use / crime scene investigation;
example of forensic use e.g. DNA obtained from the crime scene/victim
compared to DNA of suspect / other example of forensic use;
paternity testing use e.g. DNA obtained from parents in paternity cases;
biological father if one half of all bands in the child are found in the father;
genetic screening;
presence of particular bands correlates with probability of certain
phenotype / allele;
other example;
brief description of other example;
Award [4 max] for aims.

8 max

(Plus up to [2] for quality)

[20]

2.

Up to two additional marks are available for the construction of your answers.
(2)

(a)

Distinguish between RNA and DNA.

(3)

DNA is double-stranded while RNA is single-stranded;

DNA contains deoxyribose while RNA contains ribose;
the base thymine found in DNA is replaced by uracil in RNA;
one form of DNA (double helix) but several forms of RNA (tRNA,
mRNA and rRNA);
3 max
(b)

Explain the process of DNA replication.

(8)

occurs during (S phase of ) interphase/in preparation for mitosis/

cell division;
DNA replication is semi-conservative;
unwinding of double helix / separation of strands by helicase (at
replication origin);
hydrogen bonds between two strands are broken;
each strand of parent DNA used as template for synthesis;
synthesis continuous on leading strand but not continuous on
lagging strand;
leading to formation of Okazaki fragments (on lagging strand);
synthesis occurs in 5 3 direction;
RNA primer synthesized on parent DNA using RNA primase;
DNA polymerase III adds the nucleotides (to the 3 end)
added according to complementary base pairing;
adenine pairs with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine;
(Both pairings required. Do not accept letters alone.)
DNA polymerase I removes the RNA primers and replaces them
with DNA;
DNA ligase joins Okazaki fragments;
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as deoxynucleoside triphosphate joins with growing DNA chain,

two phosphates broken off releasing energy to form bond;
Accept any of the points above shown on an annotated diagram.
(c)

8 max

Outline how enzymes catalyse reactions.

(7)
(Total 20 marks)

they increase rate of (chemical) reaction;

remains unused/unchanged at the end of the reaction;
lower activation energy;
activation energy is energy needed to overcome energy barrier that
prevents reaction;
annotated graph showing reaction with and without enzyme;
substrate joins with enzyme at active site;
to form enzyme-substrate complex;
active site/enzyme (usually) specific for a particular substrate;
enzyme binding with substrate brings reactants closer together to
facilitate chemical reactions (such as electron transfer);
induced fit model / change in enzyme conformation (when
enzyme-substrate/ES complex forms);
making the substrate more reactive;

7 max

(Plus up to [2] for quality)

[20]

(Total 20 marks)

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1.

The diagram below shows one DNA nucleotide and part of a second nucleotide.

(a)

State the names of structures I and II.

(1)

(a)
Both must be correct for the mark to be awarded.
I. phosphate and II. hydrogen bond(s)

(b)

On the diagram above, draw the structures that are missing from the second nucleotide.
(1)

deoxyribose and phosphate added to base to show antiparallel orientation 1

Labels are not required but location of bonds and shape of deoxyribose
must be correctly shown.

(c)

The two nucleotides would be permanently separated during DNA replication. State one
process during which they would be temporarily separated.

transcription

(d)

(1)

Outline the method that can be used to amplify small quantities of DNA to obtain large
enough quantities for DNA profiling.

polymerase chain reaction/PCR;

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(DNA obtained from) blood/semen/hairs/other source of tissue;

combined with necessary raw materials/one example of raw material;
in thermal cycler / (PCR) machine;
DNA replicated many times;

2 max
[5]

1.

The diagram below shows two nucleotides linked together to form a dinucleotide.

(a)

(i)

(b)

phosphate

(ii)

covalent / phosphodiester

Distinguish between the sense and antisense strands of DNA during transcription.

only the antisense strand is transcribed / the antisense strand is transcribed to mRNA and the
sense strand is not transcribe /has the same base sequence as mRNA (with uracil instead
of thymine)
1
To award [1], reference must be made to both strands and transcription.

(1)

(c)

Compare the DNA found in prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells.

(c)
prokaryotic DNA

eukaryotic DNA

Circular

linear;

in cytoplasm/nucleoid region

enclosed in nuclear membrane / in nucleus;

naked

associated with proteins/histones;

plasmids

no plasmids;

both prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA consist of a double helix of (deoxy)nucleotides /

phosphate, deoxyribose and base/ATC and G;
2 max
Award marks for paired statements only. Answers do not need to
be shown in a table format.
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[5]

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3.

The diagram below shows one DNA nucleotide and part of a second nucleotide.

(a)

State the names of structures I and II.

Both must be correct for the mark to be awarded.
I. phosphate and II. hydrogen bond(s)
(1)

(b)

On the diagram above, draw the structures that are missing from the second
nucleotide.
(1)

deoxyribose and phosphate added to base to show antiparallel orientation 1

Labels are not required but location of bonds and shape of deoxyribose
must be correctly shown.

(c)

The two nucleotides would be permanently separated during DNA replication. State
one process during which they would be temporarily separated.

transcription
(d)

Outline the method that can be used to amplify small quantities of DNA to obtain
large enough quantities for DNA profiling.
(2)

(d)

polymerase chain reaction/PCR;

(DNA obtained from) blood/semen/hairs/other source of tissue;
combined with necessary raw materials/one example of raw material;
in thermal cycler / (PCR) machine;
DNA replicated many times;

2 max
(Total 5 marks)

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4.

(a)

Outline the bonding between DNA nucleotides.

hydrogen bonds between nucleotides on

(reject letters instead of

opposite strands/complementary bases/

base names)
adenine and thymine and cytosine and guanine;
covalent bonds between nucleotides within strands/between
sugar/deoxyribose and phosphate;
(b)

Explain how chemical bonding between water molecules makes water a valuable
coolant in living organisms.
(2)

hydrogen bonding between water molecules;

breaking (hydrogen bonds) needs/removes energy/heat;
hydrogen bonds must break when water evaporates/vaporizes;
(c)

State a word equation for anaerobic cell respiration in humans.

(c)

pyruvate/pyruvic acid lactate/lactic acid;

glucose (pyruvate/pyruvic acid) lactate/lactic acid;
Accept correct chemical equation with formulae.

2 max

1 max
(Total 5 marks)

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5.

(a)

Draw a labelled diagram showing two different complementary pairs of nucleotides

in a molecule of DNA.

(a)

The structures underlined must be labelled.

at least one nucleotide with deoxyribose Labels need not be on the same

linked to base and phosphate;

nucleotide. Do not allow sugar.
Position required, n ot label. Straight
line from C to phosphate is acceptable.
4

phosphate and deoxyribose

Do not penalize if the second strand is
linked C3 to C 5 ;
not antiparallel and the bonding is

therefore incorrect on it.

(complementary) bases labelled with at least one of each of A, G, T and C
correctly linked to C1;
hydrogen bonds between correct complementary bases;
{Bond numbers not required.
correct antiparallel orientation shown; (as seen by shape or
orientation of sugar)

(b)

4 max

Outline the structure of nucleosomes.

eight) histone (proteins);

DNA wrapped around histones/nucleosome;
further histone holding these together;
Do not allow histone wrapped around DNA.
(c)

Explain primary structures and tertiary structures of an enzyme.

(c)

primary structure is (number and) sequence of amino acids;

joined by peptide bonds;
tertiary structure is the folding of the polypeptide/secondary
structure/alpha helix;
stabilized by disulfide/ionic/hydrogen bonds/hydrophobic
interactions;
tertiary structure gives three dimensional globular shape/shape
of active site;

2 max

3 max
[9]

7.

(a)

State the type of bonds that

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(i)

connect base pairs in a DNA molecule.

...........................................................................................................................

(i)

hydrogen

(ii)

link DNA nucleotides into a single strand.

ii) covalent / phosphodiester linkage (b)

Distinguish between DNA and RNA
nucleotides by giving two differences in the chemical structure of the molecules.
DNA has deoxyribose, RNA has ribose;
DNA has base T/thymine, RNA has base U/uracil;
Do not accept double or single strands as chemical structure.
(c)

Explain the role of transfer RNA (tRNA) in the process of translation.

tRNA attaches to (specific) amino acid;

tRNA (with amino acid) moves to the ribosome;
anticodon of tRNA binds with codon of mRNA;

2 max
(Total 6 marks)

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